44yo introduction and advice request

Hi all.

First up, how glad I was to find Bald Truth Talk and this forum. Given what’s going on with my hair, I’m glad to be here!

I’m a 44yo male. I’d always thought of my hair as being good - thick and even. Perhaps a few months back, I noticed that it felt less dense than I thought it should, but still with even coverage. Then... I went for a haircut two days ago. When my hairdresser had finished she used the mirror to show me the back - sunlight glinted off my crown!

I took some photos to see where I was at. If I’d only taken the natural light photos I’d have no concern, but the direct halogen photos are something else!

Photos are attached. If it’s time to go for the buzz then I’ll deal with it, but if keeping my hair is possible then that would be my preference. I’m here trying to find out where I’m at and what my options might be!

So, hairline! Not something I’d ever considered before, but pulling back my fringe (in as much as ‘hair that points mostly forward no matter what I try to do with it’ can be called a fringe) shows that there’s something going on there! I’m kind of amazed I hadn’t noticed before, TBH.

Ask yourself, had the barber not said anything, would you have noticed? Has anyone else said anything? Spouse? Family, friends, co-workers?

If it doesn't bother you, then don't "do" anything about it. If it does... you, at this point have hairstyle options, other than buzzing. A creative stylist can give you something you can live with. It depends on how long this has been going on, and how quickly.

You have the options that most folks on this forum prefer, drugs rugs and plugs. At 44, you might be an awesome candidate for plugs... but it's a DRASTIC approach since from what I have seen, you will basically have to shave your head and start over, with scars and red bumps for a while, and you have about 9months of hair on your head, right now, if not a bit more.

Drugs... read up, don't always work, side effects.

Rugs... you will need to shave off all the top of your hair... and then... you have something glued on, which only looks good under certain circumstances.

All of those three options are very expensive.

You can buzz it... or shave it, next to doing nothing, the cheapest alternative.

I would say a NW2 with some minor crown loss. But best not to get caught up in the Norwood scale... The main point to make is that you have lost some hair from the crown and do have some hairline recession. It's nothing major, especially for a guy in his forties. Minoxidil could help and is worth trying.

Thank you both for taking the time to reply, your thoughts are appreciated (though darn BaldBearded, you gave me a scare saying I had 9 months hair on my head - I initially thought you meant the signs were it would all be gone by then!).

No one else has mentioned anything to me, my wife is utterly unconcerned (all her brothers lost the majority of their hair before 25). Your thoughts on where I’m at will I’m sure really help me figure out my next step, again they are much appreciated. FWIW, I’ll let you know what I decide - and believing that status update threads are a good thing will keep a record of how I get on, again FWIW!